Gamber & Community Fire Co., neighboring fire departments, and Carroll County Department of Fire and EMS career personnel were alerted for a house fire in the 3200 block of Sykesville Rd. at 11:14 am on Saturday, July 13.

EMS Captain 13, Todd Tracey, was responding to the fire station when he observed the house fire in passing. He stopped and advised the 911 center that it was a working fire. A rapid intervention dispatch (RID) was added to the call and additional tankers were also alerted. This area of Westminster has no fire hydrants. Mutual aid from Baltimore County and Howard County was also provided with tanker support.

Crews arrived to find a fully involved two car garage with extension into the dwelling. The fire extended into the breezeway and the living area of the house and into the attic. Additionally, a sedan in the driveway was also fully involved and a pickup truck to the side of the garage had some damage. Gamber Captain Richard Yingling was the incident commander.

Crews established numerous fire attack hose lines both in the front, side, and rear of the house to knock down the fire. Additionally, the front roof was opened to allow for heat and smoke to vent. Firefighters entered the rear of the house where there was active fire.The fire was controlled shortly after and crews started to overhaul and ventilate. Tankers were used to supply water to the scene and they filled up at a local pond.

BGE turned off the power to the house and MSP closed Rt. 32 to traffic. There were no reported injuries to fire personnel or civilians. The Office of the Maryland State Fire Marshal is investigating the cause and origin of the fire.

Baltimore County Tanker 56 from Franklin and Engine-Tanker 503 from Chestnut Ridge in Baltimore County filled in the Gamber Station.